discussion The 'D' in D - Day

[spanner570]

How many of you good people know what the 'D' stands for?

Be honest, what did you think it meant when you read the above sentence?

Just one word please....

No cheating and looking it up.....your first thoughts please.......

I thought I knew, but I did eventually go and look!

If you know for deffo., keep shtum for a bit.

Cheers,

Ron

 

[eddiesolo]

Is it: " DIS-DAY, June 6fff, Hitler is gettin what is coming to im...know what I is a meaning like."

Si

 

[Alan 45]

I think it was written by a bloke with a stutter !

 

[Alan 45]

I have just looked this up don't worry I won't tell but I was surprised to have guessed it correct

Those who don't know will be a little surprised at it

 

[Guest]

This thread will open up a can of worms Ron!

I can't say more....

 

[Guest]

I don't think it stands for any thing does it? just signals the start of an operation? maybe wrong though lol

 

[spanner570]

I thought it might go on a bit longer with folks coming up with a word starting with D. like deliverance or similar, but Paul's let it out....kind off.

I must confess that until recently, I thought it was short for a word, but no, it signals the actual day of the invasion. It could have been any letter - H hour for instance, which is used a fair bit, but D was chosen...D- or D+ whatever days....

Know doubt most of you knew the answer anyway......

Unless, of course anyone knows a different, and correct explanation!

Cheers all, back to modelling.....

Ron

 

[Guest]

WOW. got it right then cool.

So it sounds like someone just said it in a meeting and it stuck?

I used to think that is was something to do with the sign used for the invasion dum dum dum dum that was sent via wireless to the resistance groups but found out later that this was not the case.

 

[Guest]

I always thought it just stood for "Day" so it was in fact Day-Day

 

[Alan 45]

Boldman is also correct as brigadier general Schultz of Eisenhower personal staff answered a request from someone.

Many explanations have been given for the meaning of D-Day, June 6, 1944, the day the Allies invaded Normandy from England during World War II. The Army has said that it is “simply an alliteration, as in H-Hour.” Others say the first D in the word also stands for “day,” the term a code designation. The French maintain the D means “disembarkation,” still others say “debarkation,” and the more poetic insist D-Day is short for “day of decision.” When someone wrote to General Eisenhower in 1964 asking for an explanation, his executive assistant Brigadier General Robert Schultz answered: “General Eisenhower asked me to respond to your letter. Be advised that any amphibious operation has a ‘departed date’; therefore the shortened term ‘D-Day’ is used.” (p.146)

Brigadier General Schultz reminds us that the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944 was not the only D-Day of World War II. Every amphibious assault—including those in the Pacific, in North Africa, and in Sicily and Italy—had its own D-Day.

Taken from the WWII museum web site